Would Reagan Still Be Welcome in Today's Republican Party?

On the premiere night of "Reagan," locals and "Reagan" star Dennis Quaid weigh in on whether the late president would be an accepted figure in today's political climate as ideology and temperament shift within the party.

As the movie "Reagan" premiered in Dixon, Illinois, the late president's hometown, a question emerged among locals and the film's star, Dennis Quaid: would Ronald Reagan still be welcomed within the modern Republican Party?

Quaid, who portrays Reagan in the biopic, exuded confidence in the former president's continued relevance."Reagan would be the head of the Republican Party these days, there's no doubt about that," Quaid proclaimed."This country yearns for it, in a sense. He was a man of his times, as well. And I think those principles are still there in the Republican Party of today."

Would Reagan Still Be Welcome in Today's Republican Party?

However, Dixon locals offered a mix of perspectives on Reagan's potential reception in the current GOP. While some lauded his policies and temperament, others expressed doubts about his compatibility with the party's recent trajectory."I think they've gone way off on the far-right fringe," Kevin Strock from Sterling, Ill., said about the party's evolving stance."Reagan was a moderate. I don't think he'd be welcomed."

Analysts have drawn parallels and distinctions between Reagan and former President Trump, both in their populist rhetoric and contrasting temperaments. Edwin G. Oswald argues that"Reagan would not be welcomed in today's GOP," citing his stance on immigration as significantly more liberal than the party's current position.

Would Reagan Still Be Welcome in Today's Republican Party?

In contrast, John Lehman emphasizes temperament, stating that"Reagan’s 11th Commandment was ‘Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican,’ but Donald Trump is no heir to Reagan’s legacy. He is an insult to it."

At the premiere, several attendees praised Reagan's integrity, morality, and ability to"agree to disagree," qualities they felt were absent in contemporary politicians.

Would Reagan Still Be Welcome in Today's Republican Party?

Some attendees expressed optimism about Reagan's potential fit in the current party, highlighting his ability to garner majority support in consecutive terms."I personally do. I think he'd know how to do it. He was an actor too," said Sara Ortgiesen from Dixon, who participated in Reagan's inaugural parade.

When asked about Reagan's stance on Vice President Kamala Harris' proposed price gouging ban, Quaid affirmed Reagan's belief in free markets."Well, as far as price controls, I know Reagan wouldn't have gone for that, because he believed in free market. It'll find its own way," Quaid explained.

Would Reagan Still Be Welcome in Today's Republican Party?

Quaid also recalled Reagan's testimony about communist infiltration in Hollywood, emphasizing his faith in democracy's ability to prevail."Reagan also testified communists are trying to take over the unions in Hollywood, not just the actors union, but the set builders union and cameras union and writers, everything and make it all one thing. And they had to go through the actors union first, of course, that was the hardest."

"And Reagan fought that at the time," Quaid continued."And when he testified before Congress, he said that we ought to, as a nation, just go ahead and allow the Communist Party to come into the country and let them say their ideas and everything else because democracy can handle it. And it would sort itself out. Because people would see the common sense in things. He believed in common sense."

Both Reagan and Trump defied expectations with their presidential victories, realigning the political landscape. However, they share a sobering commonality: assassination attempts. Quaid expressed relief at Reagan's survival, fearing a recurrence of the national trauma inflicted by Kennedy's assassination.

"Well, I had the same reaction that I had when Reagan was shot," Quaid said."Thank God he survived it. Because the first thing I thought when Reagan got shot was remembering when Kennedy got shot, and it crippled our nation's spirit for some decades. It was Ronald Reagan who kind of actually brought that spirit back."

As "Reagan" graces movie theaters, the question of his place in today's Republican Party remains a topic of debate, reflecting the evolving nature of the political landscape and the enduring legacy of one of America's most influential presidents.